College of Sciences Newsletter Edition 15 September 20, 2002 
Bond Referendum
Dear Friends:
You have seen the remarkable progress of the College of Sciences in recent years. Now our greatest limitation is modern space in which to continue the development. We are very excited about Virginia’s plans to renovate and build new buildings for higher education.
On Nov. 5, 2002, Virginians will be asked to vote on the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $900,488,645 for urgently needed upgrades, renovations and new construction on the state’s public college and university campuses - such as Old Dominion University - as well as for improvements at state museums, historic sites and cultural attractions. Every community college and public four-year colleges and universities in every region of the Commonwealth will benefit from the passage of the educational facilities bond referendum. Of particular importance to us is the new $13,000,000 Physical Sciences Building Phase II which will be funded by this bond issue.
Consistent with Virginia’s fiscally conservative philosophy, the bond referendum is prudent, fiscally responsible, and will be repaid in 25 years or less - without raising taxes. The referendum also does not affect Virginia’s coveted Triple A bond rating.
Virtually all the Commonwealth’s elected officials and community leaders support the referendum. Gov. Warner, Lt. Gov. Kaine and Attorney General Kilgore all support it, as do nearly 100 percent of the members of the General Assembly - both Republican and Democrat. In addition, business and civic groups across the Commonwealth have pledged their support.
All of the colleges, community colleges and universities in Hampton Roads will benefit from the passage. Funds totaling more than $200 million are designated for Hampton Roads’ institutions - included are renovations and/or new projects for Christopher Newport University, the College of William and Mary, Eastern Shore Community College, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Paul D. Camp Community College, Rappahannock Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College and Tidewater Community College.
What will it mean for Old Dominion University?
Desperately needed renovations to instructional facilities:
Technology Building $ 9,158,050
Batten Arts & Letters Building $ 9,631,552
Hughes Hall $ 5,600,000
Alfriend Chemistry Building $ 731,000New facilities for teaching and research:
Physical Sciences Building, Phase II $13,000,000
Tri-Cities Higher Education Center
in Chesapeake $ 6,149,200ODU total for renovation and new construction $44,269,802
Facts
- Passage of this referendum will allow Old Dominion University and other Virginia institutions to continue being recognized among the best in the nation. For example, Forbes magazine ranks Old Dominion one of the country’s top cyber universities.
- Passage of this referendum will help provide the level of space and facilities needed by institutions like Old Dominion University to educate a projected influx of an additional 32,000 highly qualified Virginia high school graduates by 2010. Old Dominion’s enrollment already reached an all-time high in 2001-02.
- Passage of this referendum will ensure Old Dominion University students - in today’s information age economy - will have modern facilities in which to receive the best instruction and best education possible.
- Passage of this referendum will allow Old Dominion University to continue its leadership role as one of the Commonwealth’s leaders in job creation and job retention in Hampton Roads and enhance economic growth throughout the state as a result of its distance learning initiative, TELETECHNET. Old Dominion’s economic value to Hampton Roads already exceeds $600 million annually.
- Passage of this referendum will enable Old Dominion University to develop further as Hampton Roads' science and technology university, creating world-class technology-based economic development opportunities in areas such as: modeling and simulation, high performance computing, bio-technology, nano-technology, engineering, physics and oceanography.
- Passage of this referendum will provide a boost not only to Old Dominion University and higher education’s vigor, but also to Virginia’s economic vitality. The economic impact of the educational bond referendum is $1.5 billion and more than 13,800 jobs will be created as a result of its passage.
Your ballot will look like this:Shall Chapter 859, Acts of the General Assembly of 2002, authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the maximum amount of $900,488,645 pursuant to Article X, Section 9(b) of the Constitution of Virginia for capital projects for educational facilities, take effect?
Yes____ No_______
I am sure you know which to check.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas L. Isenhour
Dean
